Distributing frame

ABSTRACT

A distributing frame for a telecommunication exchange includes a plurality of first groups of terminals, a plurality of second groups of terminals and a jumpering section containing the jumper wires for interconnecting the terminals between the first and second groups. First separating means are located within the jumpering section and include a plurality of first subsections arranged in a predetermined direction. Second separating means are also located in the jumpering section and comprise two second subsections arranged along a predetermined direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the first subsections. This distributing frame arrangement for directing the jumper wires that interconnect between separate groups of terminals provides convenient access to the jumpers and greatly reduces the chance for error in selecting particular jumpers in view of the large number of jumper wires and terminals involved.

United States Patent [191 Wuyts et al.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 1 DISTRIBUTING FRAME [73] Assignee: InternationalStandard Electric Corporation, New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: May 6, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 467,440

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 10, 1973 Netherlands 7306556[52] US. Cl 179/98; 317/122 [51] Int. Cl. H04Q 1/14 [58] Field of Search179/91 R, 98; 317/120, 317/121, 122,117, 119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,321,672 5/1967 Kuhn et a1.317/120 3,563,882 2/1971 Kimura et al. 317/122 3,566,004 2/1971 Creedon179/98 3,780,351 12/1973 Salmon et al. 317/119 3,855,427 12/1974 Sinden179/98 Primary Examiner-Kathleen H. Claffy Assistant ExaminerGerald L.Brigance Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John T. Ol-lalloran; Menotti J.Lombardi, Jr.; Richard A. Menelly [57] ABSTRACT A distributing frame fora telecommunication exchange includes a plurality of first groups ofterminals, a plurality of second groups of terminals and a jumperingsection containing the jumper wires for interconnecting the terminalsbetween the first and second groups. First separating means are locatedwithin the jumpering section and include a plurality of firstsubsections arranged in a predetermined direction. Second separatingmeans are also located in the jumpering section and comprise two secondsubsections arranged along a predetermined direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of the first subsections. Thisdistributing frame arrangement for directing the jumper wires thatinterconnect between separate groups of terminals provides convenientaccess to the jumpers and greatly reduces the chance for error inselecting particular jumpers in view of the large number of jumper wiresand terminals involved.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet10f33,927,277

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f3 3,927,277

DISTRIBUTING FRAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A distributing frameisdescribed in Belgian Pat. No. 708 844 (O. WUYTS et al. l3). Therein thefirst separating means consist of a plurality of horizontal jumpersupports which are arranged in horizontal planes defining lower andupper subsections, the second separating means consist of verticalbars'carrying these horizontal jumper supports arranged in a similarvertical plane which 'subdivides the jumpering section in identicalfront and rear subsections. However, when two of these distributionframes are arranged back to back, i.e. with their rear subsectionsadjacent each other, those jumper wires which are arranged in the rearsubsections are not easily accessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide adistributing frame wherein the larger part of the jumper wires areaccessible after they have been arranged on the horizontal jumpersupports.

According to the present invention this is achieved by making one of the2 second subsections much larger than the other of the secondsubsections.

The inventive distributing frame therefore provides a maximum frontsubsection so that most of the jumper wires are easily accessible. Thisdistributing frame is also particularly suitable for being used in aback-toback arrangement with a similar distributing frame.

Another characteristic of the inventive distributing frame is that thirdseparating means are mounted in the other second subsection to providetherein one or more first jumper wire guide channels each associatedwith a distinct one of said first subsections and each adapted forguiding jumper wires from the first groups of terminals into theassociated first subsection, said first guide channels being arranged insaid second direction.

Another" characteristic of the inventive distributing frame is thatfourth separating means are mounted in the second subsection tosubdivide it in second jumper wire guide channels associated withparticular members of the first subsections to guide jumper wires fromsaid first subsections to said second groups of terminals, said secondguide channels being arranged in the second direction.

Hence, each jumper wire interconnecting terminals of a first group and asecond group is arranged successively in a first guide channel, a firstsubsection and a second guide channel. In this way the chance of makingerrors is reduced since the jumper wires do not interfere with eachother.

Another advantage of the inventive distributing frame comprises a firstapertured means mounted in a free section provided between the firstgroups of terminals and the first separating means, the apertures ofeach of said first apertured means being associated with distinct onesof said second subsections.

A further advantage of the inventive distributing frame is that a secondapertured means is mounted' in a free section provided between thesecond guide channels and each of the second groups, the apertures ofeach of said second apertured means being associated with distinct onesof said second guide channels.

The use of these apertured means or so-called fanning strips furtheraids to prevent errors.

This invention therefore comprises a distributing frame for atelecommunication exchange which includes a plurality of first groups ofterminals. a plurality of second groups of terminals, and jumper wiresused to interconnect tenninals of said first and second groups. At leastone auxiliary first group of terminals is associated with the pluralityof first groups of terminals, and at least one auxiliary second group ofterminals is associated with the plurality of second groups ofterminals, and jumper wires are connected between terminals of the firstgroup and the associated auxiliary first group. and between terminals ofthe second group and the associated auxiliary second group. Furtherelectric connections are also provided between said first and secondauxiliary groups of terminals.

One embodiment of the inventive distributing frame for atelecommunication exchange includes a plurality of line side panels anda plurality of exchange side panels separated by a jumpering section,above the first and below the second panels, the jumpering sectionhouses jumper wires for interconnecting terminals of the line sidepanels and exchange side panels. The jumpering section is subdividedinto a rear subsection and a front subsection, wherein the frontsubsection is much larger than the rear subsection, by a plurality ofvertical uprights arranged in the same vertical plane and carrying aplurality of hoiizontal jumper supports which are arranged in lower andupper horizontal planes defining a lower and-an upper subsection whichare arranged in vertical direction. The rear subsection constitutes asingle first guide channel, whilst the front subsection is subdivided inboth a rear and a first guide channel which are arranged in the samehorizontal direction as the front and rear subsections. In the jumperingsection the jumper wires connected to terminals of an odd numbered pairof line side panels are led successively through an associated lowerfanning strip directly in the lower subsection, in the rear guidechannel, and finally through the middle aperture of an upper fanningstrip to an exchange side panel. The jumper wires connected to terminalsof an even numbered pair of line side panels are led successivelythrough an associated lower fanning strip, in the first guide channel,in the upper subsection, in the front guide channel and finally throughthe front aperture of an upper fanning strip to an exchange side'panel.

The above mentioned and other objects and features of the invention willbecome more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood byreferring to the following description. of an embodiment taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION. OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of adistributing frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 1 after it has been partlyequipped;-

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a distributing frame according to thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show the maindistributing frame for a telecommunication switching system. Only partof the elements shown in FIG. 2 is represented in FIG. 1. Thedistributing frame as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 constitute two sub frames 1and 2 which are mounted back to back. As these two sub frames areidentical only one of 3 them, i.e., sub frame 1, is described in detailhereinafter.

The sub frame 1 comprises three functional parts arranged one above theother: a lower or line side part 3, a middle or jumpering section 4 andan upper or exchange side part 5.

The line side part 3 includes a plurality of pairs of line side panels,such as 6, 7 and 8, 9 arranged in a row. Each of these pairs of panelscarries a first group of line side terminals which are perpendicular tothe plane of the panel and extend at both sides thereof. For instance,line side panel 7 carries the line side terminals schematicallyrepresented by 10. Line cables (not shown) are led through respectivecable clamps, such as 11, provided at the bottom of the sub frame andare connected to the line side terminals e.g. by means of wrappedconnections.

The exchange side. part includes a plurality of exchange side panels,such as 12, 13, arranged in a row.

Each of these panels carries a plurality of line-controlling keys and asecond group of exchange side terminals which are strapped (not shown)to these keys and which extend at both sides of the panel. For instance,panel 13 carries the line-controlling keys and the exchange sideterminals schematically representedby l4 and 15 respectively. Exchangecables (not shown) are led through respective cable clamps, such as 16,provided at the upper side of the sub frame and through holes 17 of arespective fanning strip such as 18, and are connected to the exchangeside terminals e.g. by means of wrapped connections.

The jumpering section 4 houses jumper wires interconnecting line andexchange side terminals. At its lower and-upper sides the jumperingspace 4 is delimited by a pair of longitudinally extending beams 19, and21, 22 respectively.- The beams of each of these pairs are united by aplurality of horizontally mounted lower and upper transverse rods whichare perpendicular-to these beams. For instance, the lower beams 19 and20 are united by the lower transverse rods, such as 23, 24, and 26,whilst the upper beams 21 and 22 are united by the upper transverserods, such as 27, 28, 29 and 30. The adjacent pairs of lower and uppertransverse rods are united by vertical uprights each carrying a pair ofintermediate horizontal transverse rods or jumper supports which areparallel to the lower and upper transverse rods. For instance, the pairsof lower and upper transverse rods 23, 27; 24, 28; 25, 29; and 26, 30are united by the vertical uprights 31, 32, 33 and 34 respectively,these rods carrying the pairs of horizontal jumper supports 35, 36; 37,38; 39, 40; and 41, 42 respectively. Hereby the lower or jumper supports37, 39 and 41 are located in a first horizontal plane or level, whilstthe upper or jumper supports 36, 38,

and 42 are located in a second horizontal plane or level. The set ofvertical uprights 31 to 34 are located in a same vertical plane. Thevertical uprights are further united in pairs by horizontal longitudinalrods which are perpendicular to the transverse rods. For instance, thevertical uprights of the pairs 31, 32 and 33, 34 are united by thehorizontal longitudinal rods 43 and 44 respectively. Finally, adjacentupper transverse rods and upper jumper supports are united by verticaluprights located in a same vertical plane parallel to that wherein thevertical uprights 31 to 34 are located. For instance, the transverserods of the pairs 27, 36; 28, 38; 29, 40 and 30, 42 are united by thevertical uprights 45, 46, 47 and 48 respectively.

At its lower and upper sides the jumpering section 4 further comprisesfour-apertures .and three-apertures fanning strips which aretransversely mounted between the longitudinal beams 19, 20 and 21, 22respectively and in front of a longitudinal rod. For instance, lower andupper fanning strips 49, 51 and 50, 52 are mounted adjacent thelongitudinal rods 43 and 44 respectively. The lower fanning strips 49and 50 have the four apertures 53 to 56 and 57 to 60 respectively,whilst the upper fanning strips 51 and 52 have the three apertures 61 to'63 and 64 to 66 respectively.

The lower fanning strips are each associated with a pair of line sidepanels, while the upper fanning strips are each associated with anexchange side panel. Each of the two rear apertures of each lowerfanning strip is used to guide jumper wires connected to terminals of adistinct one of the line side panels of the associated pair. Forinstance, the rear apertures 53, 54 and 57, 58 of the lower fanningstrips 49 and 50 are used to guide jumper wires connected to terminalsof the line side panels 6, 7, 8 and 9respectively. The front aperturesof the lower fanning strips, such as 55, 56, 59, 60 of the fanningstrips 49 and 50 are not used. The apertures of the upper fanning stripsare used to guide jumper wires connected to terminals of the associatedexchange side panel. For instance, the apertures of the upper fanningstrips 51 and 52'are used to guide jumper wires connected to terminalsof the exchange side panels 12 and 13 respectively. More particularly,the middle and front apertures, such as 61, 64 and 62, 65 of the upperfanning strips such as 51 and 52 are used to guide jumper wiresconnected to terminals of the first and second pairs of line side panels6, 7 and 8, 9 respectively. Likewise, the jumper wires connected to theother odd numbered and other even numbered pairs of line side panels(not shown) are led through the middle and front apertures of the upperfanning strip associated with the exchange side panel to which they areconnected respectively. The rear apertures such as 63, 66 of the upperfanning strips, such as 51, 52 are used to guide jumper wires connectedto terminals of line side groups forming part of the sub frame 2.

From the above it follows that the jumpering section 4 may be consideredas being subdivided in two first subsections arranged in verticaldirection and in two second subsections arranged in horizontaldirection: a lower first subsection located between the jumper supports35, 37, 39, 41 and 36, 38, 40, 42 and an upper first subsection locatedabove the jumper supports 36, 38, 40, 42; a rear and a front secondsubsection located behind and in front of the vertical uprights 31 to 34respectively, the front subsection being much larger than the rear one.

The longitudinal rods 43, 44 may be considered as defining in the rearsecond subsection a single first jumper wire guide channel, butobviously more such longitudinal rods could be provided to define in therear second subsection aplurality of such first jumper wire guidechannels arranged in horizontal direction.

The front second subsection may be considered as being subdivided in:

a rear second jumper wire guide channel located between the;ve;rti caluprights 31 to 34 and 45 to 48; a front second jumper wire guidechannel'located in front of thejve'rtical uprights 45 to 48, thesesecond guide channels extending in horizontal direction.

It should be noted that the first guide channel is associated with theupper first subsection, while the rear and front second guide channelsare associated with the lower and upper first-subsections respectively:More overfthe middle and front apertures of theilippr fang. ning stripsare associated with -the rear and front 'second g ide'cha'nnels.

FIG. 2 shows how a pluralityfofjumper'wire biindles channel definedbetween thevertical uprights 31 to 34 and the vertical uprights 45 "to"48fand finally through the middle aperture 61 of th'eupper fanning strip51 to the exchange side panel 12; 1 I jum'per wire bundles 69 and 70which are'connected to terminals of the respective panels 6 and 70f thefirst pair of line side panels 6, 7 are led successively through therespective apertures 53 and 54 "of' the lower fanning strip 49 onto thejumper supports 37 and of the lower first subsection defined between.the lower jumper supports 35, 37, 39,41 and the upper jumper supports36, 38, 40, 42" into the rear second guide channel defined between thevertical uprights 31 to 34' and the vertical uprights 45 to 48 andfinally through themiddle aperture 64 of the upper fanning strip '52tothe exchange side panel 13; jumper wire bundle 71 which is'connected toterminals of the panel 8 of the second pair of line side panels 8,

9 is led successively through the respective aperture 57 of the lowerfanning strip 50 into the first guide channel located behind thelongitudinal rods 43 and 44, then on the upper jumper supports 40 and 38of the upper first subsection delimited by the upper jumper supports 36,38, 40, 42 and the upper transverse rods 27 to 48, then into the frontsecond guide channel located in front of the vertical uprights 45 to 48,and finally through the front aperture 62 of the:

upper fanning strip 51 to the exchange side panel 12;

jumper wire bundle 72 which is connected to terminals of the panel 8 ofthe second pair line side panels 8, 9 is led successively through therespective aperture 57 of the lower fanning strip 50 into the firstguide chan-' nel located behind the longitudinal rod 44, then on theupper jumper support 42 of the upper first subspace delimited by theupper jumper supports 36, 38, 40, 42 and transverse rods 27 to 30; etc.(not shown);

jumperwire bundle 73 which is connected to terminals of the panel 9 ofthe second pair of line side panels 8, 9 is led successively through therespective aperture 58 of the lower fanning strip 50 into the firstguide channel located behind the longitudinal rod 44, then in the firstsecond guide channel located in front of the vertical uprights 45 to 48,and finally through the front aperture 65 of the upper fanning strip 52to the exchange side panel 13;

jumper wire bundle 74 which is connected toterminals of a line sidepanel belonging to the sub frame 2 is led through the aperture 63 of theupper fanning strip to the exchange side panel 12.

It is clear that the above described subdivision of the jumpering space4 in first and second subsections and in first and second guide channelspermits the arrange'-" odd and even numbered'pairs of-line,

- -Reference is now made to.

highlln this case:

onnected to terminals of the 'de-n lsfa ranged tin a row are led in"th'el'owei an per first subsections I respectivelyl i.e. i n"a ,cyelicj itclear that the j umper wiresare thus equally distributed over these Ifirst subsections and' that this so reduces the chance "of makingerrorst- Since the jumper wire-s Sc v r c. 3 wh'ferein the frames 1' and2 with their. constituentparts 3, 4, 5 and 3 4-'a'nd 5 areschematically: represented, When the number of-lineside panels andexchaiige side panels arranged inthe-partsli, .3; and 4, 4' respectivelyare relatively high, obviouslyithe lengthtof the jumper wires arrangedin th jjump erin g sections'4 and 4 becomes a'pair of auxiliary blocksof terminals75, 76;;77, 78 and I '75, 76'; 77, 78".is associated-to eachof the ends of the line side parts 3 and 3' respectively; b v a pair oflower andzupper auxiliary; blocks of terminals 79, 80; 81,82 and 79'.,80", 81', 82, which are identical to'the abovementioned onesisassociated to each of the ends of the exchange side parts 5 and, 5respectively. f.

Hereby terminals of the-lower auxiliary blocks of terminals associatedwith-the exchangeside panelsof a sub frame are connected to terminalsof-the-auxiliary blocks of terminals'associated with. the line sidepanels of the same sub frame via further electric connections,

e.g.: wire 83 connects terminals-of the auxiliary blocks and ofsub frame1; v a 31 wire 84 connects terminals of the auxiliary blocks 77 and 78of sub frame 1; wire 85 connects terminals of the auxiliary blocks 77and 79' of sub frame 2; wire 86 connects terminals of the auxiliaryblocks 76 and 80 of sub frame 2. The terminals of the upper auxiliaryblocks of terminals associated with the exchange side panels of a subframe are connected to terminals of the auxiliary blocks of terminalsassociated with the line side panels of the other'sub frame via furtherelectric connections,

e.g.. wire 87 connects terminals of the blocks 77 and 81 of the subframes 1 and 2 respectively; wire 88 connects terminals of the blocks 76and 82' of the sub frames 1 and 2 respectively;

wire 89 connects terminals of the blocks 81 and 76' of the sub frames 1and 2 respectively;

wire 90 connects terminals of the blocks 82 and 75' of the sub frames 1and 2 respectively.

With this arrangement, the jumper wires connected to terminals of a lineside panel, respectively exchange side panel, are arranged in thejumpering section in an analogous way as described above in relationwith FIGS. 1 and 2, but instead of being connected to terminals of anadjacent exchange side panel, respectively line side panel, these jumperwires are connected to terminals of an adjacent auxiliary block ofterminals. This arrangement obviously permits to use jumper wires havinglengths much smaller than if one would directly interconnect terminalsof line and exchange side panels by jumper wires in case the number ofthese panels is very high.

While the principles of the invention have been described above inconnection with specific apparatus it is to be clearly understood thatthis description is made 7 only by way of example and not as alimitation on the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A distributing frame for a telecommunication exchange of the typehaving a plurality of first and second groups of terminals, togetherwith a jumpering section containing a series of jumper wires forinterconnecting said first and second groups'ofterminals, theimprovement comprising: first jumper wire separating means locatedbetween said first and second groups of terminals within said jumperingsection and including a plurality of first subsections defined by afirst plurality of interconnecting vertical and horizontal supportmembers. each of said first subsections located one over the other inthe vertical plane and separated from each other by means of at leastoneof said horizontal support members; and

second jumper wire separating means with said jumpering section saidsecond separating means including a pair of second subsections definedby a second plurality of vertical support members and extending in aplane perpendicular to each of said first subsections, one of saidsecond subsections being larger than the other of said secondsubsections, and separated therefrom said other second subsection by atleast one of said second plurality of vertical support members,

whereby said jumper wires located within said jumper- .7 mg section areaccessible when a pair of said distributing frames are connectedtogether.

2. The distributing frame of claim 1 further including third jumper wireseparating means comprising a third plurality of horizontal crossmembers extending across each of said second jumper wire separatingmeans, and having a series of first jumper wire guide channelstherethrough each of said cross members, each of said first guide wirechannels corresponding to an associ ated first subsection for guidingjumper wires from said first group of terminals into each associatedfirst subsection.

3. The distributing frame of claim 2 further including fourth jumperwire separating means comprising a fourth plurality of horizontal crossmembers extending across each of said second jumper wire separatingmeans, and having a series of second jumper wire guide channelsextending therethrough said cross members, each of said second guidewire channels corresponding to an associated first subsection forguiding jumper wires from said first subsections to said second groupsof tenninals."

4. The distributing frame according to claim 1 further including firstapertured means (49, 50) between said first groups of terminals and saidfirst separating means (35, 37, 39, 41 wherein the apertures '(53, 54,57, 58) of each of said first apertured means are associated withcorresponding second subspaces.

5. The distributing frame according to claim 1 wherein the jumper wiresconnected "to said first groups of terminals are uniformly distributedthroughout said first subspaces.

1. A distributing frame for a telecommunication exchange of the typehaving a plurality of first and second groups of terminals, togetherwith a jumpering section containing a series of jumper wires forinterconnecting said first and second groups of terminals, theimprovement comprising: first jumper wire separating means locatedbetween said first and second groups of terminals within said jumperingsection and including a plurality of first subsections defined by afirst plurality of interconnecting vertical and horizontal supportmembers, each of said first subsections located one over the other inthe vertical plane and separated from each other by means of at leastone of said horizontal support members; and second jumper wireseparating means with said jumpering section said second separatingmeans including a pair of second subsections defined by a secondplurality of vertical support members and extending in a planeperpendicular to each of said first subsections, one of said secondsubsections being larger than the other of said second subsections, andseparated therefrom said other second subsection by at least one of saidsecond plurality of vertical support members, whereby said jumper wireslocated within said jumpering section are accessible when a pair of saiddistributing frames are connected together.
 2. The distributing frame ofclaim 1 further including third jumper wire separating means comprisinga third plurality of horizontal cross members extending across each ofsaid second jumper wire separating means, and having a series of firstjumper wire guide channels therethrough each of said crosS members, eachof said first guide wire channels corresponding to an associated firstsubsection for guiding jumper wires from said first group of terminalsinto each associated first subsection.
 3. The distributing frame ofclaim 2 further including fourth jumper wire separating means comprisinga fourth plurality of horizontal cross members extending across each ofsaid second jumper wire separating means, and having a series of secondjumper wire guide channels extending therethrough said cross members,each of said second guide wire channels corresponding to an associatedfirst subsection for guiding jumper wires from said first subsections tosaid second groups of terminals.
 4. The distributing frame according toclaim 1 further including first apertured means (49, 50) between saidfirst groups of terminals and said first separating means (35, 37, 39,41), wherein the apertures (53, 54, 57, 58) of each of said firstapertured means are associated with corresponding second subspaces. 5.The distributing frame according to claim 1 wherein the jumper wiresconnected to said first groups of terminals are uniformly distributedthroughout said first subspaces.